A bill that would allow Granite Staters to carry a concealed weapon without a permit was debated in Concord on Thursday.

A bill that would allow Granite Staters to carry a concealed weapon without a permit was debated in Concord on Thursday.

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Updated: 6:03 PM EST Jan 29, 2015

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WEBVTT FOR A PERMIT TO CARRY A CONCEALED HANDGUN. ADAM SEXTON JOINS US NOW WITH REACTION FROM BOTH SIDE. SUPPORTERS CALL IT CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY. OPPONENTS CALL IT A BAD IDEA. THIS BILL BROUGHT OUT A BIG CROWD TODAY. IN NEW HAMPSHIRE YOU CAN'T CARRY A CONCEALED WEAPON WITHOUT ONE OF THESE PERMITS, A NEW BILL AT THE STATE HOUSE SEEKS TO CHANGE THAT. VERY SIMPLE BILL THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO CARRY CONCEALED, SOMETHING THEY CAN ALREADY DO OPENLY. DOZENS SHOWED UP FOR THE HEARING, MOST OF THEM BACKING WHAT THEY CALL A MODEST CHANGE, ONE THEY BELIEVE WOULD EXPAND FREEDOM FOR LAW ABIDING CITIZENS. SOME ARE PITCHING THE END OF CONCEALED CARRY PERMITS AS A WOMEN'S RIGHTS ISSUE. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT WOMEN ARMED WITH A WEAPON OF ANY KIND FARE BETTER AGAINST ASSAILANTS THAN UNARMED WOMEN. OPPONENTS SAY THE CURRENT REQUIREMENTS ARE ALREADY LENIENT. THEY SAY THEY WOULD HAVE HAD A BIGGER TURNOUT AT THIS HEARING, BUT THEY MANY BELIEVE FEAR STANDING UP IN FRONT OF GUN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS THEY FEAR ARE ARMED. IT AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE. PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO COME AND STAND IN FRONT OF A FIRING SQUAD, A GROUP MUCH PEOPLE WITH GUNS. LAW ENFORCEMENT ALSO GIVES THIS BILL A THUMBS DOWN. THE ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE SAYS ELIMINATING PISTOL PERMITS WOULD HURT PUBLIC SAFETY. THIS WOULD ALLOW KIDS, 13, 14, TO CARRY GUNS CONCEALED, BECAUSE THERE IS NO MINIMUM AGE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. BUT GUN RIGHTS SUPPORTERS POINT TO VERMONT WHERE THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS ON CONCEALED CARRY AND NO ONE IS CONFUSING THE GREEN MOUNTAINS FOR THE WILD WEST. WE ARE THE SECOND SAFEST PLACE IN THE WORLD. THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT BEAT US OUT ON THAT WAS SWITZERLAND. BACKERS OF THIS BILL ARE CONFIDENT IT CAN PASS THE REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED HOUSE AND SENATE. BUT GETTING IT PAST THE GOVERNOR'S DESK IS ANOTHER STORY. HER OFFICE SAYS SHE SHARES THE CONCERNS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN

Bill would allow concealed carry without special permit

A bill that would allow Granite Staters to carry a concealed weapon without a permit was debated in Concord on Thursday.